Folding extension table sectional top



1951 G. H. HARRIS E TAL 2,536,365

FOLDING EXTENSION TABLE SECTIONAL TOP Filed May 28, 1946 4 Sheets-Shet iFIGJ.

G. H. HARRIS ET AL FOLDING EXTENSION TABLE SECTIONAL TOP Jan. 2, 1951 Y4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1946 ||I r v II I. III 1 I 1 l HMHHHHH .H

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Jan. 2, 1951 G. H. HARRI S ET AL 2,536,366

FOLDING EXTENSION TABLE SECTIONAL TOP Filed May 28, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet3 G- H. HARRIS ET AL FOLDING EXTENSION TABLE SECTIONAL TOP Jan. 2, 19514 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 28, 1946 I Patented Jan. 2, 1951 FOLDINGEXTENSION TABLE SECTIO NAL TOP George Henry Harris and Cyril RonaldRiley, Walsall, England, assignors, by mesne assign ments, to MakmoroomLimited, Walsall, England Application May 28, 1946, Serial No. 672,836In Great Britain June 22, 1945 Q CIairns. 1

This invention has reference to tables, and, more particularly, totables for use in caravans and other temporary or permanent living quarters where space is restricted.

The principal object of the invention is to pro vide a table which, whennot in use, is capable ofb ing collapsed and stowed away in a minimum ofspace.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table which may becolapsed easily and quickly from its extended or in-use position to acol lapsed or out-of-use position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table top which may beswung from a horizontal position to a vertical position so that, whennot in use, it occupies a minimum of floorspace.

A further object of this invention is to provide a table top which maybe stowed away in a box or container when in its out-of-use position.

These and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and from the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the box in which the table top isstowed.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the table top in itshorizontal position projecting through the front of the box.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, the panels of the box havingbeen removed to expose the stowed table top.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, similar to Figure4, the box having been removed.

Figure 7 is a side elevation showing the table top fully extended, theside panel of the box having been removed.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the extendedtable top showing the inner faces of one of two cantilever andtelescopic top-supporting arms.

Figure 9 is a perspective view, on a still larger scale, and partlybroken away, to show the construction of the telescopic cantilever arms.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are enlarged scale sections through one of thetelescopic cantilever arms along the lines AA, BB and C-C, Figure 8,respectively.

Figure 13 is a detailed perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of theupper ends of one of the slotted uprights.

Figure 14 is an enlarged scale plan of a porall is located wholly belowthe intermediate leaf 7 3 when the table top is folded or collapsed. Topermit the folding or collapsing operation, the rear edge of theintermediate leaf 3 is hingedly connected to the forward upper edge ofthe rear leaf 2 and means, as hereinafter described, may

\ be provided below the tabie top for raising the forward edge of thesaid intermediate leaf 3mechanically.

When it is not desired to use the table, it may be folded or collapsedas above described and then tilted upwardly about its rear end andlowered into, and enclosed within, a box or cupboard i. i The said boxor cupboard 4 is anchored rigidly position so that it is adapted tosupport the table top in cantilever fashion, even when the said top isfully extended. Preferably, the box is anchored against a vertical wallor similar surface or in a recess or a cove in a vertical wall. The box4 comprises a framework built up from vertical members 5 arranged one ateach of its four corners, front horizontal members 6, rear horizontalmembers i and side horizontal members 23, the said members preferablybeing composed of channel section metal strip. This frameworkis coveredor clothed by two front panels 5 and if}, side panels H, top panels 52and i3, and, if desired, by a back panel Ii and bottom panel l5.

To enabie the folded or collapsed table top to be tilted and lowered andraised easily into and out of the box, the forward top panel 2 ishingedly connected to the rear top panel it and the upper front panel 9is hingedly connected to the lower front panel It) so that the saidpanels 52 and 9 can be swung to the positions shown in chaindotted linesin Figure 2. When the table top is in use. or is ready for use, thepanel 52, is pro?- erably closed, whereas the panel 5! remains in itsopen position, as shown in Figure 3.

The table top is anchored to and above a pair of telescopic cantileverarms [6, each of which is provided laterally with a track roller l1rotatably mounted upon a horizontal pin l3 fixed to the outside of thiscomplementary arm l3 adjacent the rear end of the latter. These rollersI? engage in vertical slots l3 formed in uprights 23 fixed inside thebox 4 in opposite corners of the front of the said box. Each slot l9terminates at its upper end in a bayonet slot 2| and at its lower end ina bayonet slot 22 for securing and retaining the complementary rollersll and retaining or looking the table top in its raised or loweredposition, respectively.

A cam plate 23 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured near opposite endsof the uppermost front horizontal member 3 and in the same verticalplanes as the cantilever arms l3 to assist the disengagement of therollers ll from the bayonet slots 2| and 22 at the commencement of theoperations of lowering and raising the table top into and out of the box4. The said raising operation is further assisted by two coiled tensionsprings 24, which are anchored between an angle section bracing bar 25,connected to and extending transversely between the rear ends of thecantilever arms l3 and vertical channelled brackets 26 fixed to andextending between the horizontal front members 3 of the framework.

The table top is most readily manipulated during the raising, lowering,tilting, extending and collapsing operations either by a transverserodlike handle 2? and/or a transverse bracing board 28 which are fixedto and extends transversely of the forward ends of the cantilever armsl6. Preferably, the board 23 is also connected to the underside of thefront table-top leaf To enable the said front leaf to be movedautomatically into the same horizontal plane as the intermediate leaf 3,when the table top is extended, and into a horizontal position below thesaid intermediate leaf 3 when the table top is folded or collapsed, thecantilever arms l6 are inclined upwardly and forwardly at a small anglerelatively to the plane of the table top.

When the table top is moved to its horizontal position, it is heldfirmly inposition by virtue of the track rollers l'i seating upon thelower edges of the bayonet slots 2| and by transverse bracing bar 25abutting against stop plates 29 fixed to the underside of the ends ofone of the rear horizontal frame members '5 (see Figures 6 and 8).

Each cantilever arm l comprises three telescopic units, namely, anoutermost or fixed unit 30, an intermediate unit 3| and an innermostunit 32 (see Figures '7 and 8), and attachment brackets 33 and 49.

The fixed unit 33, which is of the greatest crosssectional dimensions,seats upon the lower flange of the attachment bracket 33, which isZ-shaped in cross section, and is welded, rivetted or otherwisepermanently and rigidly secured to the inner upright face of thesaid-bracket 33. The rear table-top leaf 2 extends transversely aboveand is fixed to the upper flange of the attachment bracket 33. The saidleaf 2 is at least twice the thickness of the intermediate table topleaf 3 which is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the leaf 2 so asto provide suflicient space between the upper flanges of the twobrackets 33 and the underside of the intermediate leaf 3 of the tabletop, to receive the front leaf An angle section bracing 53 extendsacross the back of the box 4 to close the space between the rear edgeand the leaf 2 and the stop plates 29 when the table is ready for use.

The fixed unit 33 is composed of sheet metal 4 and is somewhat C-shapedin cross-section, its back being secured to the attachment bracket 33and its open side being arranged to face inwardly of the table top andto provide a longitudinal slot 34 (Figure into which a projection 35(see Fig. 9) from the rear edge of the intermediate unit 3| extends.

the projection 35 so as to limit the extent to which the intermediateunit 3| can be withdrawn from the fixed unit 30.

Each of the roller-carrying pins 8 is rigidly secured to the outer faceof, and. at right angles to,

a cantilever plate 33 which plate is welded to the outside of theupright portions of the attachment bracket 33.

The intermediate unit 3| is of the same shape as, but of smallerdimensions in cross-section than, the fixed unit 30, and is alsoarranged so that its open side faces inwardly of the table top toprovide a longitudinal slot 31 which registers with the slot 34.

Rollers 38 are provided in apertures 39 (see Figures 14 and 15) in thecrown and base of the intermediate unit at each end and between the endsof the said unit so as to permit of easy relative movement of the units33, 3| and 32 during the expansion and collapsing of the table top. Eachof these rollers 38 is journalled upon a pin 6-3 which extends intoopposed pockets 4| in the sides of the complementary aperture 39 and islocated in the plane of the said aperture by plates c2 and 43 fixed,respectively, inside and outside the intermediate unit 3| and formedwith apertures'which register with the said aperture 39. The plates 3|are recessed transversely at 44 and the ends of the pin 40 are trappedbetween the recesses and thereby retained in position.

Theinnermost unit 32 of each cantilever arm is also of C-shape in crosssection, but is disposed with its mouth located outwardly of the table,

top, that is, with its openside or slot 46 against the back of theintermediate unit 3| (see Figure 12). The forward movement of theinnermost unit 32 relatively to the intermediate unit 3|, is limited bya strap 45, extending across the rearward end of the slot 46 in its openside, abutting against a stop plate 47 which is fixed 0n the inner faceof the back of the intermediate unit and enters the said slot 46.

A spacing block 38 is fixed to the back of theinnermost unit 32 andextends from the forward end of said unit to a position just short ofthe rearward end of the said unit. The said block 48 projects throughthe slot 37 and is fixed to an angle-section attachment bracket 49 whichextends along the entire length of the block 48. The flange of theattachment bracket 49 is located parallel to, and is screwed orotherwise fixed to, the underside of the front table top leaf I so thatthe latter is rigidly assembled to the innermost units 32 of the twotelescopic cantilever arms I6. The bracket 49 extends a short distancerearwardly of the front leaf I so as to provide a support for theforward edge of the intermediate table top leaf 3 when the said topisextended fully (see Figure 8). I,

The stops 33 and 4'! are located at a distance rearwardly of the forwardends of their respective units 30 and 3| so that when the top is fullyextended, the units 30, 3| and 32 remain socketed within one anotherover a substantial portion of their lengths and are thereby adapted tohold the top rigid; i i r Alternative constructions of the mechanical"means for tilting :the intermediate table top leaf 3, :so as to.:raiseits forward edge above the level of the front leaf when the tableisfully excranked-end 55 is disposed horizontally below the leaf 3. *Thus,as the board 28 is grasped preparatory to sliding'the leaf I rearwardly,the end 54 'can'be turned easily to tilt the leaf 3, as shown.

The-construction shown in Figure 17 is adapted to be operated in asimilar manner. The construction consists of a plate 56 which is hingedtothe lower edgeof the board 28 and is connected to an :armSlofabell-crank lever which is journalled below the leaf 3, by a link58. The other arm "5 d of the be'll-crank lever is disposed horizontallyuntil such time as the plate 5% is gripped simultaneously with thegripping of the board 28 preparatory to sliding the leaf rearwardly. Theplate is swung against the rear face of the said board 28 and thebell-crank lever is turned so that its arm 59 impacts and raises theforward end of the leaf 3. When the plate 56 and board 28 are released,the lever 51, 59, is automatically returned to its initial position bythe weight of the saidleaf 3.

To raise the table top from the box or cupboard 4, the panels 5 and !2are opened and the handle 27 is vpulledupwardly. This causes theundersides of the two cantilever arms 16 to pivot about the deeper lowerendsof the cam plates 23 and automatically removes the rollers H fromthe lower bayonet slots 22, whereupon the springs 24 contract and raisethe table top. The spring-driven movement, with manual assistance givenby the operator by lifting the handle, enables the table top to beraised easily until the rollers l I register with the upper bayonetslots 2 l. The said table top is then pivoted a little further about thedeeper ends of the cam plates 23 to take the said rollers l1 into thesaid slots 2! with very little effort on the part of the operator. Whenonce the rollers are in the bayonet slots, the table top is tilted tosuch a degree out of the horizontal that it swings, automatically underis own weight, about the rollers I! until the bracing bar 25 seats uponthe stop-plates 29. The table top is then in V the position shown inFigure 6.

The table top is then extended easily and simply by pulling .on theboard 28, whereupon the front .leaf 2 slides forwardly and thetelescopic units 30, 31 and 32 of the cantilever arms I6 extend andassume the position shown in Figures 7 and 8.

To stow the extended table back into the box or cupboard 4, theintermediate leaf 3 is til Led upwardly about the upper edge of the rearleaf 2 and the front leaf is slid rearwardly below the said intermediateleaf as the cantilever arms l6 are telescoped.

The handle 27 (and/or board 28) is then gripped and raised to swing thetable top upwardly about the rollers I1. As the said top approaches itsvertical position, the undersides of #the cantilever arms "I 6 :impactand lie ial'ong 'Lthe "ca-m plates Zii, :and the .top is swung aboutithe deep ends of the said =plates to remove the rollers ll from thebayonet slots 2! and move the table top into a vertical or substantiallyvertioa'l position. Ihe table top is then depressed against the actionof the springs 2t until the rollers ll register with the mouths of thebayonet slots 22, when a slight rearward push :swi-ngs :thetop about thecam plates .23 to move the rollers it] into the said slots 22, wherebythe table :top' is retained in its lowered position. The box or cupboard4 may then be .closedby swinging the front panel 9 upwardly about thelower panel l0.

Hav ing described our invention what we claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent vvis:

1. A table comprising a multileaf extensible top, parallel telescopicarms located below and in inclined relationship to the said top, the op-*posite ends of each of thesaid arms being Ifixed to different leaves ofthe top, a lateraliy extending stud oneach arm, the said stud beinglocated at a distance from one end of the arm and the said arm end beingarranged to project beyond the table edge, a rigid upright complementaryto each arm and having a vertical slot which terminates at both ends ina bayonet slot and which is engaged by the laterally extending stud ofthe complementary arm, rigid abutment'means located beyond the tableedge for limiting the upwards movement of the projecting arm ends whenthe 'top is horizontal, and a cam on each rigid .upright, the said camsbeing so disposed in the planes of the said telescopic arms that whenthe top is swung towards a vertical position, the arms impinge the camsto facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the studs in and fromthe upper bayonet slots and, after the top has been lowered between theuprights, the engagement and disengagement of the said studs in and fromthe lower bayonet slots.

2. A table comprising a multileaf extensible top, parallel telescopicarms located below and in inclined relationship to the said top, eacharm comprising a plurality of co-axial units which slidably engage onewithin the other, the outermost unit being secured to one side of abracket fixed to the underside of one leaf of the top and having alaterally extending stud on its opposite side, and the innermost unitbeing secured to a bracket fixed to the underside of another leaf to thetop, a rigid upright complementary to each arm and having a verticalslot therein into which the said stud projects and which terminates ateach end in a bayonet slot for receiving and locating the said stud, thesaid stud being located at a distance from one end of the outermost unitwhich projects beyond the table edge, and abitment means located beyondthe table edge for limiting the upwards movement of the projecting armends when the top is horizontal.

3. A table comprising a multileaf extensible top, parallel telescopicarms located below and in inclined relationship to the said top, eacharm comprising a plurality of co-axial units which slidably engage onewithin the other, a bracket fixed to the underside of one leaf of thetop and projecting beyond the edge of the said leaf, the outermost unitbeing secured to one side of the said bracket, a laterally projectingstud on the other side of the said bracket, a rigid upright,complementary to each arm, having a vertical slot which terminates ateach end in a bayonet slot and into which the stud projects, rigidabutment means located beyond the table edge for limiting the projectingends of the said bracket, and a second bracket, fixed to the undersideof another leaf of the table top, to which the innermost unit of each ofsaid telescopic arms is secured.

4. A table comprising a multileaf extensible top, parallel telescopicarms located be.ow and in inclined relationship to the said top, theopposite ends of each of the said arms being fixed to difierent leavesof the top, alateraily extending stud on each arm, the said stud beinglocated at a distance from one end of the arm and the said end beingarranged to project beyond the table edge, a skeleton framework forreceiving the table top, a rigid upright, complementary to each arm,located within the said framework, each upright having a vertical slottherein which terminates at each end in a bayonet slot, each verticalslot being engaged by the stud of the complementary arm, a cross memberin the said framework adapted to serve as an abutment for limiting theupwards movement of the projecting arm ends when the studs are locatedin the upper bayonet slots and the top is disposed horizontally, and camplates mounted on said uprights in the planes of the said arms, forfacilitating the engagement and disengagement of the said studs in andfrom the said bayonet slots.

5. A table comprising a multileaf extensible top, parallel telescopicarms located below and in inclined relationship to the said top, theopposite ends of the said arms being fixed to diferent leaves of thetop, a laterally extending stud on each arm, the said stud being locatedat a distance from one end of the arm and the said end being arranged toproject beyond the table edge, a skeleton framework for receiving thetable top, a rigid upright, complementary to each arm, located withinthe said framework, each having a vertical slot therein which terminatesat each end in a bayonet slot, each vertical slot being engaged by thestud of the complementary arm, a transverse member between the saidprojecting arm ends, a cross member in the said framework against theunderside of which the said transverse member abuts when the top ishorizontally disposed, and springs connected between the said transversemember and the said framework.

6. A table comprising a multileaf extensible top, parallel telescopicarms located below and in inclined relationship to the said top, eacharm comprising three co-axial units, which slidably engage one withinthe other, the outermost unit being secured to one side of a bracketwhich is fixed to the underside of one leaf of the top, which projectsbeyond the edge of the said leaf and to the opposite side of which acantilever plate is secured, a laterally projecting stud being providedon the said plate, the innermost unit being secured to a second bracketwhich is fixed to the underside of another leaf of the top, theintermediate unit being provided with rollers which abut the inside ofthe outermost unit and the outside of the innermost unit, means embodiedin the arms for limiting the relative endwise movement of the saidunits, a rigid upright complementary to each arm having a vertical slottherein which terminates at both ends in a bayonet slot, the said studbeing arranged to pro.- ject into the said vertical slot, and rigidabutment means so arranged that the said projecting bracket ends impingethe underside thereof when the top is horizontally disposed.

'7. A table as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of the said co-axialunits is of C-shape in crosssection and has a slot extending lengthwiseof one wall, the slotted walls of the outermost and intermediate unitsbeing arranged in face to face contact with the slots in register andthe slotted wall of the intermediate unit being arranged in face to facecontact with an unslotted wall of the innermost unit, and the means forsecuring the said innermost unit to its supporting bracket projectingthrough the slots in the outermost and innermost units.

3. A table as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of the said co-axial unitsis of C-shape in crosssection and has a slot extending lengthwise of onewall, the slotted walls of the outermost and intermediate units beingarranged in face-to-face contact with the slots in register, a tongue ofthe intermediate unit projecting through the said registering slots andstops on the exterior of the said outermost member in the path of thesaid tongue for limiting the endwise movement of the intermediate unitrelatively to the outermost unit.

9. A table as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of the said co-axial unitsis or C-shape in crosssection and has a slot extending lengthwise of onewall, the slotted walls of the outermost and intermediate units beingarranged in face to face contact with the slots in register, the slottedwall of the innermost units being arranged in faceto-face contact withthat wall of the intermediate unit which is opposed to the slotted wallof the latter unit, a strap being provided across the slot in theinnermost unit and a projection from the intermediate unit extendinginto the said slot in the path of the said strap for limiting theendwise movement of the innermost unit relatively to the intermediateunit.

GEORGE HENRY HARRIS. CYRIL RONALD RILEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

